AND I SHALL DWELL

"To dwell in happiness!"

I love this phrase!
Sometimes, there are words we say that are judged by our hearers based on the triviality that beds it or the seriousness that ushers it. It is good to listen to the heart when, in passing, it voices that, "I would love nothing more but to dwell in happiness." Wouldn't it be nice to be at a place in life and love every minute of it. Remember the saying that "when change is avoidable, not to change is inevitable!" Conversely, there is a part of life that is not susceptible to change. A part that cannot be corrupted by the irresistible influences the world enforces. There is a place, remote and real. Therein lays peace. When the strong winds blow, and the tempest visits; when the storms rage and age rises; when time is lost in continuous motion and blissful moments sublime; there is still a place.

Do you hunger for it? I may have said it in passing, like many of us who voice out the truth in casual conversations. Our shoulders shrug as we laugh off what truly matters to us and holds heavy in our hearts. Do you recall the scriptures saying, "Avoid jestings…?"

Why?

The truth is we have missed the truths confined in words of playfulness and hurt another when we never got to know what is truly being said. You might think you know someone when you can quote, word for word, what was said. Unfortunately, we say more without words than we should.

But listen to this again.

…And I shall dwell …

When said in passing, this phrase still is profound. Powerful. Beautiful. Wonderful.

I shall dwell!

When David proclaimed this he declared it for himself. "I," he said.

When David declared this he was sure of it. "I shall," he said.

When David was sure of it he meant to stay for good. "I shall dwell," he said.

When you hear others say a word or two, and you don't know or truly can decipher, amidst many mystifying words, what is being said, listen again to what is not said.

After sin possessed man, from God's side, we fell

After healing, from Christ's sacrifice, made us well

If there is no other thing I know, this I can tell

That always, in the Spirit's bosom, I shall dwell!

The Prisoner of Christ